Commandant's Corner

By Colonel Kevin E, McHUgh, Commandant, USAWOCC

Article published on: in the July-September 2024 Edition of the Warrant Officer Journal

Read Time: < 2 mins

Photo: Colonel Kevin E. McHugh, Commandant, U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College.

Welcome back to another issue of Strengh in Knowledge, a publication written and produced by Warrant Officer’s that serves to educate and inform the Army about complex problems (and often their solutions) as seen through the unique lens of the technical expert, leader, and advisor to Commander’s at all echelons.

For this issue, I would like to acknowledge the hard work of so many that continue to improve how we, a part of the Army’s educational enterprise, educate and train our warrant officer cohort. First, thanks to the USAWOCC Commands, faculty and staff that continue to balance the work of daily instruction combined with curriculum development to create and ensure a progressive and sequential education tailored to deliver officers who are able to meet the demands of future warfare. On 1 OCT 2024, the team delivered a critical update to the Warrant Officer Candidate Program building on the major effort last year, labled WOCS 20.1. This update increases learning opportunties through focused study sessions and the application of leader development through the formalization of the Candidate Led Strategy.

Within WO Professional Military Education and with the approval of the CG, Combined Arms Center, USAWOCC sunset the 18 hour distance learning requirment for WOAC Phase 1 in preparation for the FY 26 release of the modernized warrant officer intermediate course (WOIC). In addition, the team continues development of the future warrant officer advanced and senior courses scheduled for implementation in FY26. Its important to highlight and thank the staff, instructors and developers at the various Centers of Excellence (COE), remembering that effective warrant officers are the direct result of the deliberate “pariing” of common core education delivered by USAWOCC and the techical training delivered by the COEs. As we close in on FY26 implementation of the warrant officer modernized educational continuum started over three years ago, the Combined Arms Center is set to host a series of final planning sessions to ensure the alignment of the warrant officer educational curricluums across the enterprise. Finally, a sincere thanks to the Harding Project Team and USAWOCC’s own Mr. Jim Steddum (Strength in Knowledge Lead editor/writer and Academic Lead) for the hard work and accomplishment of this journal being officially recognized as a professional bulletin within the United States Army, #1918. Well done!!! As we all seek continuous improvement through strength in knowledge…enjoy the read!